Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-09-01
TIE TARIFF QUESTION.

As the time draws near in which the
next presidential contest is to begin, the
voice Of the protectionist is again heard
sounding a plaintive wall for the poor L.
boring man. This cry comes with mo-
notonous regularity every four wears,
american labor must be protected" 1t
is catchy phrase and dcludes many
man into voting IN 3 manner, and for
principles dismetTicsl,y opposed to his
own interests. There never wss time
when the interests of the lGboring
man did not occupy q conspicu-
Gus position in our national cam
psigns. He is mentioned in every
national platform and in almost every
stste plstiorm and the apparent solicit
tude shown for lis welfare is remarkable
and in 0old contrast with his condition
The prCte ctionists claim that high tariff
| is necessary for the salvation of American
labor. They hsve had it for years ard if
it possessed oil the virtues claimed for it,
the American la5orers should every one
be miliionaires at present. They have
been fostered ard protected, according to
tins Republican idea, but instead OF becom-
irg onulent or even comfortably supplied
with this worlds goods, they ere in abject
slavery in those sections and in those in
dustries where the protective tariff is spe-
cislly designed to operate and exercise a
beEefCent Influence. 1t will not be con-
tended thst protective tariff benefits the
laborer in the agricultural district. He
is made to pay, by its operations, double
prices for what he purchases, yet he is
perhaps better housed, clothed, fed and
paid than any class Of protected laborer5.
This is not because Of the tariff, but in
spite Of the tariff. Reliable statistics
show that the Pennsylvania miners aver
age about IS cents per diem, and out of
this they must pay fines for the
irfraction OF rules prescribed by
arbitrary bosses, besides supporting
themselves and families. Unlike the
farm lsbcrer who can look forward with
reasonable expectation to becomin Q
owner Of q farm of his own, the protected
lsborer is engaged daily in hand to hand
struggle with want, and this battle fol-
existence wsges SO tiercely that it subor-
dinates to itself every other hope or as
pirstion. The one thought Of animal ex-
isterce predominetes to the exclusion o.
ell things else. 1t keeps the lsborer IN s
physical slavery and drags hin
down to mental barbsrism. HI
is in the clutches CT his master
and, instead of being protected by hi:
ballot. that instrument of defense is con
trol!ed by his employer and used il
!. fastening more securely the chains OF hi!
bondage. And this because Of the tsIif
!, and not in spite of it. The org aniZatiol
, of the monopolists in the various branches
, of the protected industries is complete
J They have sn absolute control over nc
, only the price of lsbor hut the product
! OF labor. The market values Of eacl
commodity is arranged by them st vii
and always held to figure which give
, them large profit. Ii the supply Of .
given article is greater than the demand
st the price named by them, they proceed
J to reduce it. With a rockies
|. and cruel disregard for tn,
rights Of labor which poorl,
COMFORTS with their loud sounding solici